Harrisburg, Pa. - Tamiflu is an anti-viral drug used to treat the seasonal flu. Doctors have also been prescribing it to patients with H1N1 symptoms; particularly those who have been hospitalized or who are prone to illness.

"They should be put on these medications and they should be put on these medications as early as possible," said Pennsylvania Department of Health Dr. Stephen Ostroff.

Rhoads Pharmacy in Hummlestown has 150 Tamiflu prescriptions and they're going fast.

"We've filled 11 prescriptions today already for Tamiflu," said pharmacist Dave Lutz. "It's been increasing every day."

Lutz ran out of the liquid form of Tamiflu which is specially designed for kids. In fact, there's a shortage nation-wide.

"That is a bit of a problem because of a lot of the illness that we're seeing is in the younger age groups," Ostroff said.

Pennsylvania has a stockpile of anti-viral medicine.

"In fact we have enough of these medications to treat one in every four Pennsylvanians should it be necessary," said Ostroff.

But it's not necessary, yet, according to state health officials, because there's a work around, for now. The CDC (web | news) is asking pharmacists to make childrens liquid doses from adult Tamiflu pills.

At Rhoads, they're crushing pills and mixing the medicine with solution, as directed. Dosing directions are adjusted.

Tamiflu pills are plentiful now, but could there be a shortage later on? It seems some are stocking up.

"There may be some prescriptions that are being filled that people are putting in their closets, getting ready, in case they do get the flu," said Lutz.

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